Stewart Copeland, longtime drummer of The Police, is one of the most unique drummers to come out of popular music in the last several decades. His innovative sound is often instantly recognizable, between his diverse rhythmic influences, the way he creatively orchestrates patterns, and how he incorporates modern technology into his drum parts.
00:00 – Intro 00:35 – Getting To Know Stewart Copeland 00:55 – Signature Style 01:45 – Exercises – The Police – “Roxanne” 02:40 – Exercise – The Police – “Next To You” (Chorus) 03:01 – Exercise – The Police – “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” (Bridge) 03:57 – Exercise – The Police – “Driven To Tears” (Verse To Chorus) 04:19 – Exercise – The Police – “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” (Breakdown) 05:07 – Exercise – The Police – “Next To You” (Intro To Verse) 05:38 – The Police Full Transcriptions & Drumless Tracks 06:02 – Early Influences 07:35 – Exercise – The Police – “Behind My Camel” (Intro) 08:00 – Exercise – The Police – “King Of Pain” (Verse) 08:13 – Exercise – The Police – “Spirits In A Material World” (Intro) 08:34 – Exercise – The Police – “Message In A Bottle” (Pre-Chorus To Chorus) 10:28 – Characteristic Sound 11:43 – Exercise – The Police – “One World (Not Three)” (Verse To Chorus) 12:09 – Exercise – The Police – “Wrapped Around Your Finger” (Intro) 12:57 – Exercise – The Police – “Murder By Numbers” (Verse) 14:02 – Use Of Technology 14:33 – Exercises – The Police – “Walking On The Moon” (Interlude) 15:19 – Exercises – The Police – “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” (Intro) 16:14 – Orchestrational Mind 16:25 – Exercise – The Police – “Message In A Bottle” (Verse) 16:56 – Exercise – Klark Kent – “Too Kool To Kalypso” 19:17 – Wrap-up 19:54 – Outro
Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham was one of the greatest rock drummers in history. Known to fans as “Bonzo”, his power and energy behind the kit were unmatched.
This video unpacks 5 reasons why Led Zeppelin’s stick wielder was a relentless dynamo:
- Powerful Playing
- Unprecedented Bass Drum Work
- Undeniable Feel
- Recognizable Drum Grooves
- Intense Drum Solos
Lesson Index: 0:00 – Intro 3:26 – Bonham Bass Drum 5:51 – Bonham Feel 8:51 – Monumental Grooves 11:44 – Epic Drum Solos 18:22 – Outro
“I was a rebel. Nobody could play with me ’cause they couldn’t understand it.”
Elvin Jones is one of the top jazz drummers of all time, and definitely one of the most influential. But why?
- His power and energy were unmatched.
- He took a unique polyrhythmic approach to timing, comping and soloing.
- He was one of the first jazz drummers to approach the drum set as a single voice, often playing linear patterns.
Elvin Jones influenced big names like Mitch Mitchell, John Bonham, Bill Bruford, John Densmore and Ginger Baker, even having a drum battle with the latter in the early 70s.
A professional drummer from the 1940s until his passing in 2004, Jones was a key member of John Coltrane’s classic quartet in the ’60s, appearing on legendary jazz records like A Love Supreme, My Favorite Things and Ascension.
Here are 5 reasons why Elvin Jones was a genius (and how he helped change the direction and future of jazz drumming):
0:00 – Intro 1:45 — A Fresh Approach Sonny Rollins’ “A Night At The Village Vanguard” (featuring the well-known tune “A Night In Tunisia”) is one of the first times people heard what was to become ‘the Elvin Jones sound’. But outside of that album, here are a few key tracks where you can hear his flavor at its finest. – “Remembrance” by Elvin Jones – Dramatic dynamics – The “Zachariah” film featuring Elvin Jones – Huge cymbal crashes – “Acknowledgment” by John Coltrane – A washy, rivet-filled ride sound – “My Favorite Things” by John McLaughlin – Hemiolas/polyrhythms In the 1940s, most drummers would accent every quarter note or beats 2 and 4 while swinging on the ride. Listen to “Anthropology” by Elvin Jones or “Miles’ Mode” by John Coltrane and you’ll hear the difference. Jones was also known for his triplets, particularly his focus on the middle triplet partial (which most drummers neglected). You can hear this on tracks like “Blues to Bechet” by John Coltrane. 8:26 — Unique Sound & Gear He was known for playing loudly with unprecedented energy and strength – so much strength that he’d sometimes nail the bass drum to the floor to keep it from sliding! From felt mallets on tracks like “The Drum Thing” (John Coltrane) and timpani on “Psalm” (John Coltrane) to riveted cymbals and flipping his drumsticks around to use the butt end, Jones carefully chose gear to give him the sounds he wanted. 12:29 — Polyrhythmic Drumming How many jazz drummers can you name from Elvin Jones’ time who were playing polyrhythms? One of Jones’ favorites was to play 3 beat phrases in a 4 beat context (like in “Impressions” by John Coltrane). He also incorporated hemiolas into his drumming – rare for the time and style as well. 17:15 — Timekeeping Mastery It was once said that “Elvin loosened up the time and opened up the music,” and it’s this relaxed sense that set him apart. Drummers still talk about his grooves to this day, especially his trademark ‘afro-waltz’, which can be heard on multiple songs Jones tracked with artists like John Coltrane and Wayne Shorter. His Latin and Afro-Cuban-inspired grooves set him apart in the jazz world. 23:50 — Explosive Drum Solos Elvin Jones built his rudimental chops in the U.S. Army band, and they made their way into his mind-blowing drum solos. Jones’ go-to rudiment was the paradiddle-diddle, moving between the ride and snare drum or around the toms (like on “Pursuance” by John Coltrane). You could always tell when he was ending a drum solo because he’d play a buzz roll on the snare drum and vigorously nod his head (a great way to signal to the band when you’re about to wrap up). 31:16 — Final thoughts Elvin Jones was a captivating and creative force behind the drums. If you enjoyed this breakdown of his playing, Drumeo members get access to notation and practice tools (to loop/slow down sections) for all of the tracks mentioned here.
Joey Jordison was one of the most influential drummers in metal history. And he was arguably one of the top drummers of all time.
As the founding sticksman of Slipknot, he inspired thousands of metalheads around the world to learn the drums.
His insane skills, his showmanship, his masks, his gear…he was just cool.
In this video, Ash Pearson of Revocation talks about why Joey Jordison was, truly, number one.
0:00 — Intro 1:26 — Inventive drum beats Joey didn’t just pull ideas from metal. For example, in the chorus of “Wait And Bleed”, he created a groove with the snare and rack tom – not a common choice in the genre, but a great one. The iconic intro from “Duality” is one of the most recognizable metal drum parts out there. The kick pattern fits the riff perfectly. In “All Hope Is Gone”, the double kick matches the guitar part nicely and the fills carry over the bar line (a very Ulrich move). 3:59 — Creative drum fills Check out how he built these fills in “Eyeless” off the drum & bass sample. He loved using hand to foot combinations like this example from “Tattered & Torn”: 5:25 — Playing with large bands It’s tough enough to coordinate playing styles, creativity, and personalities in a three or four piece band. With nine members in Slipknot, Joey knew how and when to simplify his parts to elevate his bandmates’ parts. Not every musician is willing to put aside the ego and do what’s best for the music, but check out “Liberate”, “My Plague,” and “Duality” for examples of how he’d leave breaks in the drumming where it made sense. There’s a lot every drummer can learn from Joey Jordison. 6:54 — Technical drum parts Joey played at blazing tempos with precision. He’d also combine a lot of ideas in a short period of time when the song called for it, like the combo of thrash beats, blast beats, fills, and double bass in “Disasterpiece”. He also nailed the fast tom patterns in “Tattered & Torn”. 8:54 — Final thoughts His body of work can be summed up with this sentence (said by Joey himself regarding Slipknot): “It’s extremely sick and brutal but it’s all within the realm of being controlled and having fun and everyone leaves with a positive experience.”
Danny Carey isn’t just the drummer for Tool – he’s a musical genius in his own right. And we’re going to show you why.
If you’re familiar with Danny Carey, you probably know him for his polyrhythms, his mathematical approach to music, or at the very least, his awesome kit. But you don’t need convincing.
If you haven’t yet figured out why the Tool drummer has so much hype, here are 5 reasons why Danny Carey is a drumming genius:
0:00 – Intro 1:24 – Creative Grooves There are too many wicked grooves to list here — but just listen to the drum parts on “Stinkfist”, “The Pot”, and “Vicarious.” Danny’s grooves are undeniably cool, and Tool fans – even non-drummers – can instantly recognize many of them. 5:01 – Odd Time Mastery If you’re new to Tool, check out the cool drumming on tracks like “Jambi”, “Rosetta Stoned”, “The Grudge”, “46 & 2” or “7empest” for examples of Danny Carey mastering odd time signatures. 7:58 – Distinctive Drum Fills Danny Carey’s fills are chock full of hand-foot combos, mixed subdivisions and groupings, and flawless bass drum skills (he used to practice rudiments in his feet). Tracks like “Sober”, “Lateralus” and “The Pot” feature some incredibly varied and textured fills. Go listen. 10:16 – Polyrhythmic Drumming For a band that writes songs based around the Fibonacci sequence, you can bet the drummer dives deep into polyrhythms, polymeters, and other mathematical goodies. In tracks like “Rosetta Stoned”, Danny plays in 3/4 while implying 4/4 on the right hand and 5/16 with the bass drum. We hear multiple time signatures/meters happening at the same time, in many songs, giving us a cool over the bar line feel. Even if you didn’t pay attention in math class, it still sounds really cool. 16:21 – Setup, Sound & Influences Math, geometry, metaphysics: even his kit reflects his interests, with symmetrical cymbal placements and geometric designs on his electronic pads. Many of his musical choices aren’t standard for a rock or metal kit. He uses Mandala electronic pads for samples, a Wavedrum, other electronics (Bill Bruford from Yes is an influence) and many other percussion instruments. 19:38 – Final Thoughts So why is Danny Carey a ‘genius’? He isn’t just a drummer – he’s an incredible musician who has carved out his own style of playing and composing. He writes memorable and interesting drum parts that have inspired drummers for over 30 years.
You may know Phil Collins as a solo pop artist, drummer and vocalist of Genesis, Disney soundtrack guru, session drummer, or all of the above.
Maybe his name rings a bell because he created one of the most famous drum breaks of all time (you know the one).
If you don’t know Phil Collins, you definitely need to watch this video. Here are 5 reasons why Phil Collins has always been a drumming genius:
0:00 – Intro 1:10 – Legendary drum fills Pretty much everyone knows how to air drum along to his iconic drum break in “In The Air Tonight”. Could you imagine that song without it? This part also features his classic gated sound – a sound that was actually developed on Peter Gabriel’s song “Intruder” which Phil tracked on drums. For another example of his legendary fills, listen to the intro of “Easy Lover” – a duet with Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind & Fire. 4:09 – Navigating complex time signatures Watch the video above to appreciate Phil’s writing and artful touch on these parts. But if you want a list of key songs to check out, take a look at our Beat article: https://www.drumeo.com/beat/the-geniu… Do yourself a favor and listen to them right now. 7:27 – Signature drum grooves Phil loved to keep a groove going on the ride or crash while moving around the kit with the other hand. Listen to “Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)” where he has triplets descending on the toms with one hand while the other keeps the beat going. You’ll hear even more evidence of his signature style in “Dance On A Volcano” by Genesis and “Woman In Chains” by Tears For Fears. 9:10 – Technical ability Having picked up the drums at an early age, Phil developed a level of technical proficiency well beyond that of his peers. You can hear Phil’s amazing hand technique in Genesis songs like “The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway” and “Supper’s Ready” (listen for the press rolls) or “The Battle Of Epping Forest” (listen for his articulate rudimental rolls). Alternatively, just check out any of his work with Brand X and you’ll see what we mean. 11:25 – Embracing technology You could argue that Phil Collins helped make electronic drums cool. Compared to Genesis’ earlier records, the drums sound pretty different on Invisible Touch and their 1983 self-titled album. By this time, Phil had integrated a Simmons electronic drum kit into his acoustic setup. When soloing, he’d sometimes reach over to play the electronic pads in between ripping it up on the traditional kit. Listen to “Second Home By The Sea” for a good example. Or “Tonight, Tonight, Tonight”, where the second half of the song is stock sounds from the Simmons SDS7 module. If you weren’t already a fan of Phil Collins – or you only know him for his vocal talents – we hope you’ve gained new respect for him as a drummer. He’s truly one of a kind.
You might know him as the vocalist of the Foo Fighters, the drummer for Nirvana, or the nicest guy in rock. No matter how you slice it, Dave Grohl is one of the most influential drummers in rock history. He’s also been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame… twice!
He’s been a bona fide music icon since Nirvana burst onto the alternative rock scene in Seattle almost 30 years ago. His memorable drum parts on hits like “Come As You Are” and “Smells Like Teen Spirit” provided a soundtrack to the ‘90s for angst-ridden teens around the world.
As if that weren’t enough, his second act as the frontman for Foo Fighters showed off his impressive musical versatility and rock star personality.
What you’ll see in this video: 0:00 — Intro 1:14 — Legendary Drum Intros 3:10 — Unique Drum Fills 6:10 — Energetic & Creative Drum Parts 8:13 — Simplicity 9:18 — Signature Drum Grooves Get 12 of the Best Dave Grohl Drum Beats here: https://www.drumeo.com/beat/the-12-be…
If anyone is a household name with drummers, it’s Neil Peart.
Known lovingly as ‘The Professor’, Peart was an innovator on the kit, a prolific writer and lyricist, and an absolute legend. But why is he considered one of the greatest drummers of all time?
Here’s some Peart education:
Here’s some Peart education: ► 0:00 — Intro ► 0:49 — The Inventor During his 40-year career with Rush, Peart developed signature riffs that are recognizable even in the playing of the drummers he influenced. One of the most obvious examples is the ride cymbal groove that can be heard in songs like “The Spirit of Radio”, “YYZ”, “La Villa Strangiato”, “Subdivisions”, and more. Peart described it as something he’d use at medium tempos to bring forward motion to the music. He actually created the pattern by accident when trying to learn something completely different! We can’t mention Peart’s signature riffs without talking about his massive drum fills. Cascading down his entire kit in songs like “2112” and “Lakeside Park” – not just because he could, but because it totally worked in the context of the tune – set him apart from other drummers of the time. ► 2:31 — The Designer There was always a purpose for every drum part, and that was to support the music. Peart was adept at building tension in one section and releasing it in the next. Listen to what he plays through Alex Lifeson’s guitar solo in “Tom Sawyer” or during the choruses in “Limelight” (that shift between a relaxed 3/4 groove and a driving 4/4 groove is a work of art!). ► 4:56 — The Virtuoso In the ’70s, Peart was already pushing boundaries with technically proficient drumming, like his intricate parts on “La Villa Strangiato” and “2112”. His independence on “Bravado” was next level, and his double bass playing on tracks like “Anthem” and “One Little Victory” was incredible. ► 7:15 — The Explorer Peart wasn’t just interested in the traditional drum kit. He loved experimenting with sounds as a whole, whether it was percussion or electronics. In Rush, he went beyond simply playing rock by incorporating other styles into the music (especially in songs like “Xanadu”, “Closer To The Heart” and “The Trees”). He embraced modern technology as it entered into the music space, which meant using Simmons pads, a MalletKAT MIDI controller, Roland pads and more. In “Mystic Rhythms” he used a Simmons electronic tom and triggered sounds with a pedal. Most rock drummers don’t push sonic boundaries like Peart did. ► 9:22 — The Mathematician If you aren’t convinced of Peart’s genius yet, imagine combining all of the above points with challenging time signatures. “By-Tor And The Snowdog”, “Cygnus X-1 Book I” and “Book II”, “Xanadu”, “La Villa Strangiato”, “YYZ“…the list goes on and on and could wrap around the globe twice. ► 11:14 — Final thoughts Even though his nickname ‘The Professor’ came from a Gilligan’s Island character, Neil Peart has taught drummers so much over the years. He was also a constant student and his legacy will live on even longer in his work. What have you learned from Neil Peart? Learn more about Neil Pearts’ genius in our latest Beat article: https://www.drumeo.com/beat/neil-pear…
Alex’s powerful and dynamic drumming style and voice are instantly recognizable. In this video, we’ll look at 5 songs from Van Halen that simply wouldn’t be the same without Alex’s sensational talent.
In “Jump” we dig into the choices Alex is making to accompany Eddie’s solo. The syncopation, the voicings; each element perfectly suits that moment of the song. In “Panama” we’re looking at an over-the-barline groove that everyone has heard and everyone loves. In “Hot For Teacher” we break down this trademark groove that also happens to feature a Lamborgini exhaust! Next, we dive into “Unchained” and how perfectly syncopated and displaced the kick and snare need to be in order to complement the guitar and vocals. Lastly, we explore “Why Can’t This Be Love” and how Alex began to push the boundaries with e-drums and include those “modern” sounds in their recordings and performances.
In conclusion, Alex is an absolute legend and deserves all the credit he can be given. And it should come as no surprise that his band “Van Halen” was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. So sit back and get ready to discover the genius of Alex Van Halen.
Learn How To Play Drums Like Alex Van Halen 👉 https://www.drumeo.com/beat/how-to-pl…
Chapters: 0:00 — Introduction 0:52 — “Jump” 2:31 — “Panama” 3:39 — “Hot For Teacher” 5:12 — “Unchained” 6:34 — “Why Can’t This Be Love” 7:37 — Final Thoughts
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